Ben Syer & Team USA Win Gold At Hlinka Gretzky Cup
August 17, 2025 | Men's Ice Hockey
Princeton men's ice hockey head coach Ben Syer will return to campus this week with a special souvenir from his summer adventures -- a gold medal with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Serving as Associate Head Coach with the United States, Syer was behind the bench as the Americans defeated Sweden, 5-3, in the gold medal game on August 16 in Trencin, Slovakia. The win is just the second all-time for Team USA in the 34 years of the tournament and first since 2003.
A prominent preseason showcase for upcoming NHL Draft prospects, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup featured elite Under-18 players from the United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland. Germany and Slovakia.
The United States went 2-1 in Group Play, with wins over Slovakia (6-3) and Germany (8-1) to finish second in Group B and advance to the semifinals.
In the semis, the U.S. defeated Canada in a shootout, 4-3, to move on to the gold medal game.
In the final, the U.S. spotted Sweden -- the only team to defeat the Americans in group play -- a lead just 10 seconds into the game. Team USA responded less than three minute later to tie the game and took a lead one minute after that. After Sweden tied the game at 2-2. Team USA connected on a power play late in the first to take a 3-2 lead into intermission.
Another power-play goal from the United States 45 seconds into the second period extended their lead to 4-2, and after Sweden closed to within one by the end of the second period it was another PPG -- the fourth of the game for Team USA -- that sealed the win and a gold medal for the first time in 22 years.
Serving as Associate Head Coach with the United States, Syer was behind the bench as the Americans defeated Sweden, 5-3, in the gold medal game on August 16 in Trencin, Slovakia. The win is just the second all-time for Team USA in the 34 years of the tournament and first since 2003.
A prominent preseason showcase for upcoming NHL Draft prospects, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup featured elite Under-18 players from the United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland. Germany and Slovakia.
The United States went 2-1 in Group Play, with wins over Slovakia (6-3) and Germany (8-1) to finish second in Group B and advance to the semifinals.
In the semis, the U.S. defeated Canada in a shootout, 4-3, to move on to the gold medal game.
In the final, the U.S. spotted Sweden -- the only team to defeat the Americans in group play -- a lead just 10 seconds into the game. Team USA responded less than three minute later to tie the game and took a lead one minute after that. After Sweden tied the game at 2-2. Team USA connected on a power play late in the first to take a 3-2 lead into intermission.
Another power-play goal from the United States 45 seconds into the second period extended their lead to 4-2, and after Sweden closed to within one by the end of the second period it was another PPG -- the fourth of the game for Team USA -- that sealed the win and a gold medal for the first time in 22 years.
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